Eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat is a matter of human rights. Medicine exists to cure Hepatitis C and to prevent Hepatitis B, yet, hundreds of thousands of people in Canada live with viral hepatitis, which, if left untreated, leads to liver damage, cancer, and even death. The burden of viral hepatitis is most acutely felt by already marginalized and stigmatized populations, including people who inject drugs; people in the prison system; Indigenous people; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GMSM); and people from countries with higher prevalence rates of viral hepatitis. Eliminating viral hepatitis means eliminating the stigma, discrimination, and criminalization that these populations face, which limits their access to healthcare.
Our work focuses on laws and policies that affect access to viral hepatitis diagnosis, treatment, and care, such as Canada’s drug policies, sex work laws, and prison policies. The goals that we are working towards include:
- Decriminalizing simple possession of drugs, and necessity trafficking;
- Funding and scale up of harm reduction interventions;
- Funding and support for Indigenous-led healthcare;
- Promoting low-barrier, culturally- and gender-sensitive STBBI testing and treatment;
- Eliminating laws that deny entry or stay on Canada based on medical conditions; and
- Other measures aimed at improving health equity across Canada.
Learn more:
Raising the Bar – 2023/2024 Annual Report
The creation of our annual report always gives us a unique opportunity to look back at a year’s worth of important work with hindsight, clarity, and pride. As you will see in Raising the Bar — our 2023/24 annual report — our successes and challenges don’t begin and end with the flip of a calendar … Read more
Connection, Care, Community
Drug policy affects the health of queer people and communities. The health of queer people who use drugs must not be overlooked in our fight for sensible drug policy. And 2SLGBTQ+ rights organizations must not ignore the rights and health of queer people who use drugs. Our new resources aim to raise awareness and build … Read more
THE RIGHT TO CARE – HEPATITIS C AMONG PRIORITY POPULATIONS IN CANADA
A human rights approach is essential to eliminating HCV as a public health threat, and capturing the social, cultural, economic, and other barriers to the enjoyment of rights, including the right to health. This approach also provides a mechanism to hold governments accountable to their human rights promises.
POLICY BRIEF ON HIV, HEPATITIS C, AND STBBIs AMONG INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Effectively addressing HIV, HCV, and STBBIs among Indigenous people requires the adoption of a human rights approach, focusing on evidence-based and culturally sensitive interventions that embrace Indigenous ways of knowing and doing. In addition to the legal and policy recommendations described below, it is imperative moving forward that access to emerging health care technologies and … Read more
Provider-Assisted Injection in Ontario’s Supervised Consumption Services: Frequently Asked Questions
Supervised consumption services (SCS) are an effective intervention to reduce the harms associated with drug prohibition and a toxic drug supply. SCS increase access to health care, promote safer consumption, and prevent overdoses and other health complications. An SCS may support multiple forms of drug consumption, including consumption by injection, inhalation (smoking), oral, and intranasal … Read more
National Organizations Deeply Concerned with Saskatchewan’s Health Policy Shift
People who use drugs will suffer the consequences of backward-thinking and restrictive policies January 26, 2024 | Two leading national human rights organizations have addressed the Saskatchewan provincial government to express profound concern over changes that restrict access to vital harm reduction supplies and safety information. The HIV Legal Network and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition sent the … Read more
POINTS OF PERSPECTIVE: NEW REPORT ON NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST-EVER PRISON NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (IN CANADA) SHOWS CRITICAL LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES
November 29, 2022 — Today, researchers at the HIV Legal Network and Toronto Metropolitan University have released Points of Perspective, the very first national independent study of Canada’s “Prison Needle Exchange Program” (PNEP). It is based on interviews with people formerly incarcerated in federal prisons across the country and provides an overview of the PNEP … Read more
MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA
Leading human rights and public health organizations release national drug decriminalization platform for Canada The bill that the federal government introduced this week to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and offer alternatives to prosecution for simple drug possession is a step in the right direction, but doesn’t go far enough. For immediate release Thursday, December 9, 2021 … Read more
HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues
Joint press release: HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues Health and human rights groups identify priorities for federal policymakers as people in Canada head to the polls Tuesday, September 14, 2021 – More than 60,000 people are currently living with HIV in Canada, approximately 13% of … Read more
MEDIA STATEMENT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, FIVE FORMER TORONTO MAYORS CALL ON TORONTO TO DECRIMINALIZE SIMPLE DRUG POSSESSION NOW
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, FIVE FORMER TORONTO MAYORS CALL ON TORONTO TO DECRIMINALIZE SIMPLE DRUG POSSESSION NOW HIV Legal Network comment on report to Toronto Board of Health report This statement can be attributed to the HIV Legal Network. June 8, 2021 — As Toronto continues to experience unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths, each new month … Read more